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2018年10月高等教育自学考试《综合英语（一）》试题课程代码：00794I. 语法和词汇填空。
1. I ran all the way to the classroom, only that the exam was canceled.A. being toldB. to have toldC. to be toldD. having told2. The storm was caused to buildings along the coast.A. hurtB. injuryC. woundD. damage3. It is strongly recommended that the machines be checked every year.A. wouldB. shouldC. mustD. can4. When you are done with the novel, just give it to Lucy or Helen or is interested in it.A. whoeverB. whomeverC. whicheverD. whatever5. Experiments resulting failures are not necessarily failed ones.A. ofB. fromC. toD. in6. I was no for a man with such power.A. rivalB. matchC. opponentD. enemy7. Although the journey usually takes six weeks, you should allow delays caused by bad weather.A. withB. ofC. forD. to8. My parents lent me the money. I couldn't have afforded the trip.A. OtherwiseB. YetC. LikewiseD. However9. Compared other children of the same age, Robert is very tall.A. forB. overC. ofD. with10. The manager is Stuart Walker, has been with the company since 1970.A. whomB. whoC. thatD. which11. We have to arrangements to meet at 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.A. takeB. setC. makeD. get12. It have been Tom who parked the car like that, as he's the only one who can drive.A. mustB. needC. shouldD. ought to13. He visited the hospital he'd been a patient years ago.A. whichB. whereC. whenD. why14. The number of women suffering from hair loss is veryA. wideB. heavyC. strongD. large15. They really don't understand why some clouds rain and others don't.A. dropB. fallC. leakD. flow16. Alan and his friends used to go to the City park and singing after school.A. trainB. practiceC. drillD. operate17. When I asked them they were afraid, they firmly denied it.A. whatB. thatC. ifD. why18. The ability to make wise, educated decisions essential to a successful and fulfilled life.A. isB. areC. beD. being19. No one is able to explain the unexplainable about the incident than Professor Lee.A. ratherB. wellC. bestD. better20. As the number of people ill with AIDS increases, the need for volunteers to care for them.A. so isB. nor doesC. so doesD. nor isII．阅读理解。
2018年10月高等教育自学考试全国统一命题考试
综合英语(一) 试卷
(课程代码：00794)
本试卷共9页，满分l00分，考试时间l50分钟。
考生答题注意事项：
1．本卷所有试题必须在答题卡上作答。
答在试卷上无效，试卷空白处和背面均可作草稿纸。
2．第一部分为选择题。
必须对应试卷上的题号使用2B铅笔将“答题卡”的相应代码涂黑。
3．第二部分为非选择题。
必须注明大、小题号，使用0．5毫米黑色字迹签字笔作答。
4．合理安排答题空间，超出答题区域无效。
PART ONE
1．语法和词汇填空。
阅读下面的句子，从A、B、C和D四个选项中选出一个能填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上按要求填涂。
(本大题共20小题，每小题l 分，共20分)
V1．汉译英。
将下列句子译成英语，并将答案写在答题卡的相应位置。
(本大题共l0小题，每小题2分，共20分)
81．那位老人凭记忆向我们讲述了他年轻时在农村的难忘经历。
82．约翰逊教授多年来一直在研究这种疾病的传播途径。
83．明年这个时候我们很可能正在西班牙度假。
84．因为与老板关系不和，这位足球明星离开了球队。
85．看到桌子上的刀叉，他感到不知所措。
86．他特别喜欢在演讲中使用谚语。
87．这场雨已经下了三天三夜，大部分庄稼被淹了。
88．人们无法确定汽车业的繁荣会持续多久。
89．不冒风险，任何人都不可能在商业上取得成功。
90．在父亲的劝说下，他最终决定远离毒品。
Lesson FourteenThe Outside Chance一、词汇outside adj. 极小的（可能性、机会等）quote v. 引证，引述[kw]rainy adj. 下雨的,多雨的windycloudysandymechanic n.技工，机修工garage n. 汽车修理厂（或兼加油站）；车房，车库restless adj.不安分的，坐立不安的mum n.（口语）妈妈council house n.（英国市、郡等统建的便宜的）公寓或房屋pension n.养老金；退休金；抚恤金tube n.（英）地铁subway美式地铁tube英式地铁gap n.（时音或空间的）间断，空白；差距；裂缝generationgapjump n. 跳，跳跃my God interj. 天哪winner n. 获胜的人或马等outsider n.（赛马中）不看好的马bet v.&n. 赌博，打赌；赌注，赌金draw v.（从银行）取款lay v. 押（赌注），赌（钱等）suspicious adj.（对……）起疑心的，可疑的notice n. 辞职书；通知，预告announcer n. 播音员，广播员explosion n.爆炸explodeexplosionup adv. 在北方，在高处enquiry n. 调查，查询stop press n.（英）（报纸付印时留出的）最新的消息栏bloody adj. （英俚）该死的swim v.似在旋转，似在摇晃better off adj 经济情况好转的well offdamn adv.（口语）非常二、课文分析1 It’s a funny thing about money. If you haven’t got it, you think it’s the most important thing in the world. That’s what I used to think, too. I don’t any more, thought, and I learned the hard way.钱这个东西真是很捉弄人。
全国2018年7月自考综合英语(一)试题课程代码：00794I. 用适当的语法形式或词汇填空。
从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出一个最佳答案，并将其代码填在答题纸相应的位置上。
(本大题共20小题，每小题1分，共20分)1. I planned（）the task before last Sunday, but failed because of a bad cold.A. to finishB. to have finishedC. finishingD. having finished2. Tom has been writing letters all morning, but he should finish them by now,（）?A. has heB. hasn’t heC. should heD. shouldn’t he3. We can make some changes in the plan（）you find anything improper.A. in caseB. unlessC. so thatD. even though4. The manner in which he talked reminded me（）his grandfather.A. inB. byC. ofD. towards5. He has made another wonderful discovery,（）of great importance to science.A. I think which itB. which I think isC. that I think isD. which I think it is6. It’s 10∶00 a.m. Mr. Johnson（）home now, for he told me that he would meet me in his office at this time.A. must beB. mustn’t beC. can beD. can’t be17. If only we（）as we were told! This would never have happened.A. didB. had doneC. would doD. would have done8. The key（）success is hardworking and persistence.A. onB. forC. toD. of9. For nearly three hours we waited for the decision, only（）to come again the next day.A. to tellB. to be toldC. being toldD. telling10. In our opinion, there is much（）in their proposal.A. to improveB. improvingC. to be improvedD. to have been improved11. Hardly had he rushed out of the gate（）the whole building collapsed right behind him.A. whenB. thanC. thenD. that12. His report is（）it gives a quite clear idea of every fact.A. written as well thatB. written too well thatC. written so well thatD. written well so as13. The book is much too difficult for me; most of it is quite（）my understanding.A. overB. behindC. againstD. beyond14. She will have some visitors tomorrow, so the has to have somebody（）her six-bedroom house today.A. cleanedB. cleaningC. cleanD. to be cleaned215. The wife blamed the husband for not having told her that they were（）short of money.A. turningB. runningC. goingD. proving16. It is hardly（）that I shall be able to present on the occasion.A. possiblyB. feasibleC. incredibleD. likely17. John won’t go hunting tomorrow, and（）.A. won’t his brother neitherB. won’t his brother eitherC. neither his brother willD. neither will his brother18. However hard I tried, I could not（）him that he was wrong.A. believeB. ensureC. convinceD. persuade19. After three days, he came（）. But staring at his wife and children, he could recognize none of them.A. outB. upC. acrossD. to20.（）to our disappointment, all our efforts were proved useless.A. ManyB. MuchC. MoreD. SuchII. 认真阅读下面两篇短文，每篇短文后有五个问题。
全国2018年4月历年自考试题综合英语（一）试卷课程代码：00794请将答案填在答题纸相应的位置上I．用适当的语法形式或词汇填空。
从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出一个最佳答案，并填在答题纸相应的位置上。
(本大题共20小题，每小题1分，共20分)1. It is said that the newly-built gymnasium is three miles _______ from here.A. away farB. far awayC. farD. away2. I _______ my talk with Tony. Let’s go out for a walk.A. have finishedB. had finishedC. finishD. finished3. I am for your proposal that the discussion about future plans _______.A. to be put offB. be put offC. should put offD. was put off4. You will see this product _______ wherever you go in this city.A. advertiseB. to be advertisedC. advertisedD. advertising5. Jack often complains _______ able to communicate with his parents.A. of being notB. of not beingC. being notD. not being6. We expected many club members would come to the tea party, _______ turned up.A. only a fewB. very fewC. but a fewD. but few7. The reason _______ the little boy died was lack of medical care.A. whyB. becauseC. forD. as8. _______ the drill is, it is very useful in improving your oral English.A. Simple you considerB. You consider simpleC. Simple as you considerD. As simple you consider19. Only when I got there _______ how badly the crops had been damaged.A. did I realizeB. I realizedC. then I realizedD. then did I realize10. _______ that this small town was exposed to various kinds of dangers.A. In 2003B. The year of 2003C. It was 2003D. It was in 200311. Smoking hurts not only the smokers, but also the people around them _______ second-hand smoke.A. becauseB. because ofC. asD. as of12. To her disappointment, her best friend did not _______ at her birthday party.A. turn overB. turn aroundC. turn upD. turn in13. How I wish I could bring _______my children in an environment close to nature!A. aboutB. inC. outD. up14. When the fever eventually _______, he is likely to feel tired and weak for a while.A. dies downB. dies outC. losesD. leaves15. She had to _______ after the first round because she sprained her wrist.A. run outB. drop outC. draw outD. come out16. It was Allen who _______ with the bright idea to have a barbecue near the lake.A. went upB. came alongC. went alongD. came up17. Humor is a most _______, yet frequently neglected means of handling the difficult situations in our lives.A. affirmativeB. affectionateC. efficientD. effective18. Hardly had he arrived at the airport _______ he was told that the flight had been cancelled.2A. thanB. whenC. beforeD. then19. The decision _______ how much money should go to education is of vital importance.A. due toB. owing toC. as toD. so as to20. I know she didn’t pass the qualifying exam, but really she is _______ but stupid.A. anythingB. nothingC. somethingD. noneII．认真阅读下面两篇短文，每篇短文后有五个问题。
第1课利用时间的要旨1、时间真是不好对付，既难以控制好，又很容易浪费掉。
当你向前看的时候，你觉得你的时间用不完。
比如说，每当一个学期开始时，你或许觉得你有许多时间，但快到期末时，你会突然发现时间即将用完。
你已没有足够的时间来顾及到所有的学科，因此你开始着急。
答案是什么呢？那就是把握住时间。
2、时间是危险的，如果你不把握住时间，它就会控制你的。
浪费时间就像毒品一样，你越浪费时间，就越容易继续浪费下去。
如果你真的想充分利用上大学的机会，你就应该把利用时间的要旨付诸实践。
要旨一：从开始就把握住时间4、抓紧时间就是抓紧当前的时间，不要把事情推到明天或是下周。
在每学期初就开始实施你的计划。
要旨二：养成使用笔记本的习惯今天就去买一个笔记本。
用它来计划好你每天的学习时间。
每周制定一个学习计划，每周都采用同样的方式，可以有些小的变化。
你最好是在每周日做好下一周的学习计划。
要旨三：要现实一些6、一般情况下，你可以根据以往的经验知道你需要多长时间来写好一篇短文，多长时间进行测验前的学习，或是最后期未考试前的复习时间。
当你做这些计划时，要现实一些。
要留有余地，要预计发生意外的事情，否则你的整个计划就会被打乱。
要旨四：为每堂课安排至少一个小时的时间7、你为每堂课安排多少学习时间，取决于4个因素：（1）你的能力。
（2）课堂内容的难易程度。
（3）你希望得到的分数。
（4）你如何充分利用学习的时间。
不管怎样，有一点是确定的：你应为每堂课安排至少一个小时的时间。
许多时候，你会需要2到3个小时。
要旨五：使你的计划要灵活一些8、每周重新安排时间很重要。
这样才能在必要时对计划进行调整。
例如，在期中或期末考试前，你想多花些时间来复习功课。
制定一个好的灵活的计划。
Lesson Sixteen The Letter “A”(II)一、词汇intelligence n. 智力，理解力apparent adj. 明显的toe n. （人的）脚趾（finger 手指）kitchen n. 厨房imprison v. 禁锢，限制imprisonment n. 禁锢，限制long v. 渴望reward v. 报答，回报open adj. 无遮掩的triumph n. 胜利，成功uncertainty n. 不确定，不明确inside adv. 在里面glow n. 不刺眼的光，柔和的光giant adj. 巨人般的，特大的sum n. 算术题；运算，计算slate n. （旧时学童用的书写工具）石板prop v. 支撑slender adj. 细长的，纤细的vivid adj. （指光线或颜色）鲜艳的，鲜明的fascinate v. 使（某人）着迷或极感兴趣puzzle n. 令人费解的事（或人）useless adj. 无用的impolitely adv. 不礼貌的，粗鲁的impulse n. 冲动，一时的念头scribble n. 潦草的字迹，乱写或乱画的东西dazed adj. 茫然的surprised adj. 感到惊讶的，感到惊奇的aware adj. 意识到，觉察到stir v. （微微地）动；活动；摇晃midway adv. 在中途，在中间tension n. （精神上的）紧张，不安grip （gripped, gripped） v. 紧抓，紧握kneel （knelt, knelt） v. 跪下choke v. （使）难以呼吸deliberately adv. 不慌不忙地，从容不迫地；故意地freeze （froze, frozen） v. 使（人）呆住不动的immobile adj. 静止的，不能移动的stillness n. 平静，沉默profound adj. 深的，极度的ticking n. （指钟等发出）滴答声hiss n. 嘶嘶声crackle n. 爆裂声，噼啪声open adj. 敞开的stab n. 戳，捅stiffen v. 使变挺stump n. 残余部分，残段fingernail n. 手指甲pierce v. 刺入，刺破lower lip n. 下嘴唇（upper lip 上嘴唇）shaky adj. 不稳固的，摇晃的awkward adj. 难看的，不雅观的uneven adj. 不平衡的，参差不齐的lasting adj. 持久的，永久的written word n. 文字scrawl v. 潦草地写，乱写，乱画，乱涂key n. 门路；秘诀；（解决问题的）线索二、课文分析The Letter “A”1 I was now five, and still I showed no real sign of intelligence, I showed no apparent interest in things except for my toes – more especially those on my left foot. I used to lie on my back all the time in the kitchen or ,on bright warm days ,out in the garden ,surrounded by a family that loved me and hoped for me and that made me part of it. I was lonely, imprisoned in a world of my own ,unable to communicate with others, cut off, separated from them as though a glass wall stood between my existence and theirs, I longed to run about and play with the rest, but I was unable to break loose from my imprisonment.我现在已经满五岁了，但是仍然没有表现出有任何智力，除了我的脚趾头，尤其是我左脚的脚趾头。
Lesson Seven The Great Idea Of Mr. Budd（Ⅰ）打印本页第一学时一、词汇hairdresser 理发师，美容师memory <n.>记忆make an appointment 做预约razor 剃刀responsible 有责任感的despair 绝望二、课文部分1 ￡ 500 REWARD2 The Evening Messenger has decided to offer the above reward to any person who gives information which results in the arrest of William Strickland, who is wanted by the police in connection with the murder of Emma Strickland in Manchester.本句翻译：500英镑的悬赏。
《晚间使者》报决定把以上的奖金提供给任何一位能够提供情况并使警方逮捕威廉·斯特里克兰的人，因威廉·斯特里克兰涉嫌发生在曼彻斯特的埃玛·斯特里克兰谋杀案而受到警方的通缉。
above 前面提到的All the above items can be got from Mr. Thompson. 以上物品均可到汤普森先生处领取result in 导致The policemen are investigating a bus accident that resulted in the death of four passengers. 警察正在调查一起公共汽车事故，该事故导致四名乘客死亡。
Result from 由……导致The car accident resulted from speeding. 这次交通事故由超速导致3 DESCRIPTION OF THE WANTED MAN4 This is the official description of William Strickland: Age forty-three; height about six feet one inch; thick silver-grey hair, which may be dyed; full grey beard, but may now have been shaved off; light grey eyes; large nose; strong white teeth, of which some are filled with gold; left thumbnail damaged by a recent blow.本句翻译：以下是对威廉·斯特里克兰人的官方描述：43岁；6英尺一英寸高；可能是染过了的浓厚的银灰色头发；灰色的落腮胡子，但是这个灰色的落腮胡子可能已经被剃掉了；浅灰色的眼睛；大鼻子；白色的很坚固的牙齿，其中有一些牙可能镶了金；左手大拇指指甲因最近的一次抓捕而受到损伤。
Introduction一、必备教材《综合英语一》教材上下册、《综合英语一》自学辅导上下册、《综合英语一》上下册配套磁带（共4盘）。
二、考试内容介绍（后面附有2012年4月全国考试真题）1.语法及词汇选择题20个，每题1分，共20分，其中1道语法、10道词汇。
注：教材及练习册中针对本部分的练习题很少，需要进行大量额外的练习，建议通过大学公共英语四级或略低于四级的练习题来加强和完善。
2.阅读理解共2篇短文，每篇短文5道题，每题1分，共10分。
注：教材及练习册中没有针对本部分的练习题，同样需要进行大量额外的练习，建议通过大学公共英语四级或略低于四级的练习题来加强和完善。
注意：以上（选择和阅读理解）两个部分共40分，只有通过大量的练习才能掌握，除此之外没有其它途径！！！大家可以参看一下2005年1月的全国考试，词汇和语法的选择题难度较从前有大幅提高，如果没有平时做题的基础，基本上很难在这两个部分得到高分。
3.将单词中画线部分标注音标，共20小题，每题0.5分，共10分。
注：教材及练习册中没有专门针对本部分的练习题，需要大家熟练掌握每课课文后的生词表中的单词音标，尤其是元音音标及发音特殊4.完型填空共分两部分：（1）用给定的12个单词填进1个短文中的10个空格中，共10道题，每题0.5分，共5分。
此部分在教材中每一课的课后练习中有涉及，但要注意的是教材的练习题是10个单词填10个空。
（2）从教材的32篇课文中截取一段，去掉其中的10个单词，要求考生将缺失的单词准确地填进去，每题0.5分，共5分。
5.根据所学课文内容完成句子，共10个句子，每题2分，共20分。
注：本部分是整个考试的难点，实际上是教材中每课后面“根据课文内容回答问题”的变形，主要考察考生对课文中重要事实和表述的理解程度及书面表达能力。
6.汉译英，共10道题，每题2分，共20分。
主要考察考生对重点句型和重点短语的驾御能力。
三、本课程授课的基本进度整套教材共2册，共32个Lessons, 每个Lesson讲2此课，第1次渴讲解课文部分，第2次课讲解课文后面的习题。
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%第1课利用时间的要旨1、时间真是不好对付，既难以控制好，又很容易浪费掉。
当你向前看的时候，你觉得你的时间用不完。
比如说，每当一个学期开始时，你或许觉得你有许多时间，但快到期末时，你会突然发现时间即将用完。
你已没有足够的时间来顾及到所有的学科，因此你开始着急。
答案是什么呢？那就是把握住时间。
2、时间是危险的，如果你不把握住时间，它就会控制你的。
浪费时间就像毒品一样，你越浪费时间，就越容易继续浪费下去。
如果你真的想充分利用上大学的机会，你就应该把利用时间的要旨付诸实践。
要旨一：从开始就把握住时间4、抓紧时间就是抓紧当前的时间，不要把事情推到明天或是下周。
在每学期初就开始实施你的计划。
要旨二：养成使用笔记本的习惯今天就去买一个笔记本。
用它来计划好你每天的学习时间。
每周制定一个学习计划，每周都采用同样的方式，可以有些小的变化。
你最好是在每周日做好下一周的学习计划。
要旨三：要现实一些6、一般情况下，你可以根据以往的经验知道你需要多长时间来写好一篇短文，多长时间进行测验前的学习，或是最后期未考试前的复习时间。
当你做这些计划时，要现实一些。
要留有余地，要预计发生意外的事情，否则你的整个计划就会被打乱。
要旨四：为每堂课安排至少一个小时的时间7、你为每堂课安排多少学习时间，取决于4个因素：（1）你的能力。
（2）课堂内容的难易程度。
（3）你希望得到的分数。
（4）你如何充分利用学习的时间。
不管怎样，有一点是确定的：你应为每堂课安排至少一个小时的时间。
许多时候，你会需要2到3个小时。
要旨五：使你的计划要灵活一些8、每周重新安排时间很重要。
这样才能在必要时对计划进行调整。
例如，在期中或期末考试前，你想多花些时间来复习功课。
制定一个好的灵活的计划。
这样一些特殊的科目就得到了充分的复习。
要旨六：有课的日子每天都要抽出一些时间来学习9、第天都踏踏实实地学习一会儿，比一天学习很长时间，而第二天什么也不学要好。
上册 Lesson One The Time Message
Elwood N. Chapman Learning Guide
新的学习任务开始之际，千头万绪，最重要的是安排好时间，做时间的主人。本文作者提出了7点具体建议，或许对你有所启迪。
1 Time is tricky. It is difficult to control and easy to waste. When you look ahead, you think you have more time than you need. For example, at the beginning of a semester, you may feel that you have plenty of time on your hands. But toward the end of the term you may suddenly find that time is running out. You don't have enough time to cover all your duties, so you get worried. What is the answer？ Control！ 2 Time is dangerous. If you don't control it, it will control you. If you don't make it work for you, it will work against you. So you must become the master of time, not its servant. As a first-year college student, time management will be your number one problem. 3 Time is valuable. Wasting time is a bad habit. It is like a drug. The more time you waste, the easier it is to go on wasting time. If you seriously wish to get the most out of college, you must put the time message into practice. Message 1. Control time from the beginning. 4 Time is today, not tomorrow or next week. Start your plan at the beginning of the term. Message 2. Get the notebook habit. 5 Go and buy a notebook today. Use it to plan your study time each day. Once a weekly study plan is prepared, follow the same pattern every week with small changes. Sunday is a good day to make the plan for the following week. Message 3. Be realistic. 6 Often you know from experience how long it takes you to write a short essay, to study for a quiz, or to review for a final exam. When you plan time for these things, be realistic. Allow for unexpected things. Otherwise your entire plan may be upset. Message 4. Plan at least one hour for each hour in class. 7 How much study time you plan for each classroom hour depends on four things: (1) your ability, (2) the difficulty of the class, (3) the grades you hope to achieve, and (4) how well you use your study time. One thing, however, is certain: you should plan at least one hour of study for each classroom hour. In many cases, two or three hours will be required. Message 5. Keep your plan flexible. 8 It is important that you re-plan your time on a weekly basis so that you can make certain changes when necessary. For example, before mid-term or final exams, you will want to give more time to reviewing. A good plan must be a little flexible so that special projects can be done well. Message 6. Study for some time each class day. 9 Some solid work each day is better than many study hours one day and nothing the next. When you work out your schedule, try to include at least two study hours each day. This will not only keep the study habit alive but also keep you up to date on your class assignments. Message 7. Free on Saturday -- study on Sunday. 10 It is good to stop all study activities for one full day. Many students choose Saturday for sports or social activities. Sunday, on the other hand, seems to be the best study day for many students. It is a good day to catch up on back reading and other assignments.
Lesson Two Hans Christian Andersen's Own Fairy Tale (I) Donald and Louise Peattie Learning Guide
也许你不是出生于名门望族或书香门第，也许你生来并不聪慧，但只要你刻苦努力、坚持不懈、发挥自己的专长，在适合你的领域一定会成功。闻名遐尔的丹麦作家安徒生的故事——这只从鸭圈里飞出来的天鹅本身的经历可能会对你有所启发。
1 Once upon a time there was a poor boy who lived in Denmark. His father, a shoemaker, had died, and his mother had married again. 2 One day the boy went to ask a favor of the Prince of Denmark. When the Prince asked him what he wanted, the boy said, “I want to write plays in poetry and to act at the Royal Theater.” The Prince looked at the boy, at his big hands and feet, at his big nose and large serious eyes, and gave a sensible answer. “It is one thing to act in plays, another to write them. I tell you this for your own good; learn a useful trade like shoemaking.” 3 So the boy, who was not sensible at all, went home. There he took what little money he had, said good-bye to his mother and his stepfather and started out to seek his fortune. He was sure that some day the name Hans Christian Andersen would be known all over Denmark. 4 To believe such a story one would have to believe in fairy tales! Hans Christian knew many such tales. He had heard some of them from his father, who had worked hard at his trade, but liked to read better than to make shoes. In the evenings, he had read aloud from The Arabian Nights. His wife understood very little of the book, but the boy, pretending to sleep, understood every word. 5 By day, Hans Christian went to a house where old women worked as weavers. There he listened to the tales that the women told as they worked at their weaving. In those days, there were almost as many tales in Denmark as there were people to tell them. 6 Among the tales told in the town of Odense, where Andersen was born in 1805, was one about a fairy who brought death to those who danced with her. To this tale, Hans Christian later added a story from his own life.
